Disassemblable hatchet

ABSTRACT

A disassemblable hatchet is provided having a hatchet head and a handle consisting of two parts; an upper handle part and a lower handle part. The upper handle part has a slot into which the hatchet head is placed in assembling the hatchet. A chamber, housing a slideable lock pin, communicates with the slot in the upper handle part so that when the upper and lower handle parts are assembled the lock pin firmly and securely engages the hatchet head in locking it to the upper handle part.

United States Patent 1 1 Palumbo 1 1 NOV. 5, 1974 1 1 DISASSEMBLABLE HATCIHET [21] Appl. No.1 395,979

[52] 11.8. C1. ..145/2 R, 7/8.1 R 15 1] Int. Cl B26b 23/00 s8 Field of Search 145/2 R, 2 A, 3, 29 R; 7/1 F, 8, 8.1 R

1561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,204 10/1900 Seelye 145/2 R 1,021.93] 4/1912 James 145/2 1.185.250 5/1916 Seelye 145/2 R 1,752,129 3/1930 Watson 145/3 1.757.538 5/1930 Miller .1 145/2 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 13,124 10/1884 Great Britain 145/2 R Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant ExaminerJ. T. Zatarga Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Salvat0re C. Mitri 5 7 I ABSTRACT A disassemblable hatchet is provided having a hatchet head and a handle consisting of two parts; an upper handle part and a lower handle part. The upper handle part has a slot into which the hatchet head is placed in assembling the hatchet. A chamber, housing a slideable lock pin, communicates with the slot in the upper handle part so that when the upper and lower handle parts are assembled the lock pin firmly and securely engages the hatchet head in locking it to the upper handle part.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DISASSEMBLABLE HATCHET This invention relates to a disassemblable hatchet of the type and kind generally used by campers, hikers and other outdoor sportsmen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Included in the equipment of most campers, hikers, and other outdoor sportsmen are hatchets of the type and kind similar to that to which this invention is directed. Usually, these hatchets are of rigid, one-piece construction and are generally carried by means of a case secured to the waist belt of the user, the case enclosing the hatchet head with the shaft or handle of the hatchet suspended therefrom. Depending on where the user positions the hatchet case, the hatchet handle rubs or bumps against the users thigh, leg, or back during hiking, climbing or other activities. To avoid this discomfort, some users secure the hatchet case to their knapsacks, haversacks, or other back-type packs. However, when going through heavy brush, dense woods or climbing up and down slopes, the hatchet handle has a tendancy to become entangled in branches, vines and other growth regardless of whether it is secured to the back pack or waist belt of the user.

In most instances, hatchets are used after selecting a camp site, and then primarily for gathering kindleing wood and logs for a fire. Hence, there is no real need to carry a hatchet exposed in the manner described above. However, since most hatchets are of rigid, onepiece construction, they can not be readily stowed in a back pack.

Some efforts have been made to reduce the size of such hatchets by constructing them to be foldable or partially disassemblable so that they could be neatly stowed in a back pack or in a pocket on the outside of the backpack. For example, US. Pat. Nos. 2,989,100 t Burdis, et. al.; 1,515,688 to Love; and, 1,189,005 to Seely are illustrative of the efforts made to construct foldable hatchets. While such hatchets can be folded to a compact size, they are not completely safe to use and do not have sufficient means to maintain them in rigid form when unfolded for use. The pivot means which enable these hatchets to be folded are generally in the form of rivets, pins, bolts, and the like, which are subjected to great stress when the hatchet is used. Under such stress, these pivot means can be and are readily sheared causing the hatchet to fly apart endangering the user and persons near him.

The efforts to construct partially disassemblable hatchets and similar implements are illustrated in such US. Pat. Nos. as 3,627,007 to Rieffer; 3,187,354 to Frisbie; and, 1,282,001 to Rains. While these partially disassemblable hatchets and other devices do have their overall size reduced somewhat, they are still relatively large and can not be stowed or carried in a compact form.

It would be desireable, therefore, to construct a hatchet so that it can be reduced to a compact form for easy stowage or carrying, can be easily assembled and disassembled, and yet will be sturdy and completely safe to use after being assembled.

disassemblable hatchet of the invention which, in general, comprises a hatchet head, an upper handle part,

and a lower handle part. The upper handle part has a slot in its upper end to receive the hatchet head and a chamber in its lower end in which a lock pin is slideably seated, the slot and the chamber communicating with each other. Means are provided to secure the upper and lower handle parts to each other so that the lock pin engages the hatchet head positioned in the slot and firmly and securely locks the hatchet head in place.

Means are also provided to prevent the lock pin from falling out of the chamber while maintaining it in an operative position. In addition, the hatchet head has a pair of opposed and aligned notches intermediate its blade edge and its blunt end to facilitate its insertion into and removal from the slot in the upper handle part and also align the center line of the aligned notches with the Iongitudinal axis of the upper handle part. The means to secure the upper and lower handle parts to each other is preferably in the form of a threaded portion at the upper end of the lower handle part which can be screwed into the lower end of the upper handle part.

To assemble the hatchet of the invention, therefore, the hatchet head is first inserted into the slot in the upper handle part and the lower handle part is screwed into the lower end of the upper handle part. As the lower handle part is screwed into the upper handle part, it contacts the lock pin sliding it into engagement with the hatchet head, thereby firmly and securely locking the hatchet head to the upper handle part and firmly securing the two handle parts to each other. Thus, a rigid, strong hatchet which is safe and which can withstand great stress and wear can be simply and quickly assembled for use.

Disassembly of the hatchet is achieved by unscrewing the lower handle part from the upper handle part which permits the lock pin to become'disengaged from the hatchet head, and removing the hatchet head from the slot in the upper handle part. After disassembly, the three major components of the hatchet can be easily and readily stored in compact form in their own carrying case which can then be stowed :in a back pack or in a pocket of a back pack.

The structural details of the hatchet of the invention will become clear from the ensuing description when considered together with the accompanying drawing wherein the Figures illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein:

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the disassmblable hatchet of the invention shown in its assembled state with part broken away to reveal structural details thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially on the line2-2 I of FIG. I; and,

FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view, partly broken away, illustrating details of the movable locking means of the hatchet as the hatchet head and handle parts are being assembled.

As shown in the FIGS., the hatchet of the invention basically comprises a hatchet head 10, an upper handle part 11, and a lower handle part 12. An axial slot 13, having planar side walls 13a, 13b, is formed in the upper portion of upper handle part 11 and it communicates with an axial, annular chamber 14 formed in the lower portion of upper handle part 11 as shown in FIG. 2. Slot 13 is sized to receive hatchet head 10 while chamber 14 is sized to slideably receive a cylindrical lock pin 15 therein. Lock pin 15 has a keyway 16 to receive key pin 17 which is seated in the wall of upper handle part 11, as at 18, and extends inwardly through the wall into keyway 16 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Key pin 17 in keyway 16 limits the axial sliding travel of lock pin 15 without affecting its function, thereby preventing it from falling out of upper handle part 11, and also maintaining lock pin 15 in an operative position.

The lower inner surface of upper handle part 11 is threaded as at '19 to receive the threaded cylindrical portion 20 of lower handle part 12. Extending upwardly from threaded portion 20 is an unthreaded-section 21 which contacts the lower end of lock pin 15 when lower handle part 12 is screwed into upper handle part 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Hatchet head has a pair of aligned notches 22, 23 formed in its top and bottom edges 24, 25, respectively, internediate blade edge 26 and blunt end 27. The common center line of notches 22, 23 is preferably about one-fourth the distance of the overall length of hatchet head 10 as measured from blunt end 27. These notches 22, 23 facilitate insertion of hatchet head 10 in slot 13 of upper handle part 11. Notch 23 is of a size to receive lock pin therein in snug fitting relationship as can be seen in F IG. 1 while notch 22 is sized larger than notch 23, preferably about twice as large, to permit quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the hatchet head and the upprt handle part.

The depth of notches 22, 23 form the top and bottom edges 24, 25, respectively, is not critical but should be sufficient to enable hatchet head 10 to be easily inserted into or removed from slot 13 and yet be securely and firmly locked in upper handle part 11. A depth for notches 22, 23 of about 1/4 inch in a hatchet head measuring about 4 inches in length has been found to be suitable and this depth can be adjusted accordingly for different sized hatchet heads.

The length of lock pin 15 is also not critical, it being understood that it should be of sufficient length to perform its intended function and yet permit upper and lower handle parts 11, 12 to be assembled without any space between them in their fully assembled form so as to give the appearance of a one-piece handle. With hatchet head It) having an overall length of about 4 inches, for example, the length of lock pin 15 should be about I 56.

Assuming that hatchet head 10 has an overall length of about 4 inches, then the relative overall length of upper handle part 11 and lower handle part 12 can each be such that the overall length of the assembled handle will be about 9 inches and the diameter of each of the handle parts can be about 1 inch. Consequently, the diameter of lock pin 15 should be about /2 inch with the width of notch 23 and diameter of chamber 14 appropriately sized to provide sufficient clearance for free axial movement of lock pin 15.

Since the thickness of the blunt ends of hatchet heads having an overall length of about 4 inches is about /2 inch and the width of such hatchet heads adjacent their blunt ends is about 2 inches, slot 13 should be of a width and length slightly greater than the thickness and width of the hatchet head, respectively, to facilitate its insertion therein and removal therefrom. Naturally, these dimensions and sizes are only exemplary and can be readily altered and modified as desired or required.

As shown in FIG. 3, assembly of the hatchet of the invention is begun by inserting blunt end 27 of hatchet head 10 through slot 13 until notch 22 is generally centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of upper handle part 11. Next, threaded portion 20 of lower handle part 12 is screwed into threaded portion 19 of upper handle part 11. This permits unthreaded section 21 to contact the lower end of lock pin 15. With continued screwing of lower handle part 12, lock pin 15 is slideably moved upwardly through chamber 14 and into a portion of slot 13 until the upper end of lock pin 15 is seated in notch 23. Screwing of lower handle part 12 into upper handle part 11 is continued until these parts can no longer be screwed together due to the engagement of lock pin 15 between notch 23 and unthreaded extension 21 thereby firmly and securely locking hatchet head 10 in upper handle part 11 and securing upper and lower handle parts 11, 12 to each other. The opposite procedure is followed to disassemble the hatchet.

While the hatchet of the invention has been described in some detail and with particularity, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

I. A disassemblable hatchet comprising:

a hatchet head having a blade edge, a blunt end, and top and bottom edges, said top and bottom edges each having a notch formed therein intermediate said blade edge and said blunt end and in alignment with each other;

an upper handle part having an axial slot in the upper portion thereof and an annular, axial chamber in the lower portion thereof, said slot and said chamber communicating with each other;

a cylindrical lock pin slideably seated in said annular chamber;

means to maintain said lock pin within said chamber;

a lower handle part; and,

means for securing said upper handle part and said lower handle part to each other such that said lock pin engages and becomes seated in the notch in said lower handle part, is slid upwardly thereby in the lower edge of said hatchet head in firmly and securely locking said hatchet head to said upper handle part.

2. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein the notch in said top edge is about twice as long as the notch in said bottom edge and the center line of said notches are in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said upper handle part when said hatchet is assembled.

3. The hatchet of claim 2 wherein the length of said bottom edge notch is of a size to receive said lock pin therein in snug fitting relationship.

4. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein the length and width of said slot are of a size to permit said blunt end to be inserted therein such that the portion of said hatchet head intermediate said notches is closely fitted in said slot.

5. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein said maintaining means comprises a key pin extending inwardly through the wall of said upper handle part, the inner end of said key pin being seated in a key way in said lock pin.

6. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a threaded portion at'the upper end of said lower handle part which can be screwed into a threaded portion in the lower end of said upper handle part.

said lock pin is about /2 the diameter of said upper handle part and the length of said lock pin is such that when said lock pin is seated in said bottom edge notch and is in engagement with said extension, said upper and lower handle parts have the appearance of an unbroken, one-piece hatchet handle. 

1. A disassemblable hatchet comprising: a hatchet head having a blade edge, a blunt end, and top and bottom edges, said top and bottom edges each having a notch formed therein intermediate said blade edge and said blunt end and in alignment with each other; an upper handle part having an axial slot in the upper portion thereof and an annular, axial chamber in the lower portion thereof, said slot and said chamber communicating with each other; a cylindrical lock pin slideably seated in said annular chamber; means to maintain said lock pin within said chamber; a lower handle part; and, means for securing said upper handle part and said lower handle part to each other such that said lock pin engages and becomes seated in the notch in said lower handle part, is slid upwardly thereby in the lower edge of said hatchet head in firmly and securely locking said hatchet head to said upper handle part.
 2. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein the notch in said top edge is about twice as long as the notch in said bottom edge and the center line of said notches are in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said upper handle part when said hatchet is assembled.
 3. The hatchet of claim 2 wherein the length of said bottom edge notch is of a size to receive said lock pin therein in snug fitting relationship.
 4. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein the length and width of said slot are of a size to permit said blunt end to be inserted therein such that the portion of said hatchet head intermediate said notches is closely fitted in said slot.
 5. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein said maintaining means comprises a key pin extending inwardly through the wall of said upper handle part, the inner end of said key pin being seated in a key way in said lock pin.
 6. The hatchet of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a threaded portion at the upper end of said lower handle part which can be screwed into a threaded portion in the lower end of said upper handle part.
 7. The hatchet of claim 6 wherein an unthreaded extension is provided at the extremity of said threaded portion such that as said lower handle part is screwed into said upper handle part, said extension contacts the lower end of said lock pin in slideably seating the upper end of said lock pin firmly and securely in said bottom edge notch.
 8. The hatchet of claim 7 wherein the diameter of said lock pin is about 1/2 the diameter of said upper handle part and the length of said lock pin is such that when said lock pin is seated in said bottom edge notch and is in engagement with said extension, said upper and lower handle parts have the appearance of an unbroken, one-piece hatchet handle. 